Boone Niederhofer on Competing in the Olympics After Playing Football at Texas A&M

What does it really take to become an Olympic athlete? 

On this episode of The Leverett Ball Show, Leverett Ball sits down with Olympic bobsledder Boone Niederhofer to discuss his unlikely journey from college football at Texas A&M University to competing for Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Boone shares how a career-ending injury in football changed his path, how a phone call from a former teammate led him to try out for the U.S. bobsled team, and what it was actually like competing at the Olympics. He also talks about balancing life as an engineer, husband, and father while pursuing one of the most demanding athletic dreams in the world. 

The conversation also touches on Boone’s time playing alongside Heisman winner Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M and the unexpected twists that led him from an engineering job in the oil industry to the Olympic stage. 

Topics covered in this interview include: 

• Boone Niederhofer’s transition from college football to Olympic bobsledding

 • What competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics was really like 

• The path to making Team USA in a niche sport like bobsled 

• Life as an Olympic athlete who also works a full-time job 

• Lessons from high level sports, injuries, and career transitions 

Boone’s story is a powerful reminder that the path to success is rarely straightforward. Sometimes the opportunity of a lifetime starts with a simple phone call. 

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